Feed mechanism for sewing-machines.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

4 0 9 1 5 1 O N D B T N E T A P H. W. LARSSON.

-FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1903.

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N0 MODEL.

Witneasea 7 f 4 O 9 1 5 1 V O N D E T N E T A P H. W. LARSSON.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1903.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Patented November 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

. HENRY W. LARSSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,011, dated November 15, 1904. Original application filed April 3,1902, Serial No. 101,157. Divided and this application filed April 27, 1903. Serial To all whom it may concern.-

resid ent of Springfield, in the county of Ham pden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Feed Mechanism for Sewing-Machines,of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to feed mechanism for sewing-machines, and more particularly to that class thereof in which a chain and overseam stitch is formed. There is also pro vided an improved feed mechanism consisting of independently movable feed dogs and means for mounting the same, this structure being more particularly described in the following specification and claims.

My invention has, furthermore, for its object the provision of a feed-dog comprising two or more sections, each having fabric-engaging faces disposed at opposite sides of the longitudinal line of the stitch and organized so as to adapt themselves independently for different thicknesses of material to be sewed together, special means being disclosed for the proper mounting and operation of the feed-clog forming the feed mechanism for the sewing-machine.

Further objects of the invention may be found in the cooperation of some of the component parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter described and will be fully set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters denote similar parts, Figure 1 is a top view of a machine built in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the construction of the feed-dog and its operating-slide. Fig. 41 is a section of the V-shaped table.

It should be stated at the outset that it is no object of my present invention to improve upon or to modify the stitch or the movements or operation of the parts which directly engage or have contact with the thread, such as is performed by sewing-machines of this class, and, as above stated, my invention consists of certain novel features pertaining to (N0 model.)

the organization and operation of some of the component elements of a sewing-machine. In order to arrive at a clear understanding of these improvements, I will describe them specifically and in detail and in regular order. At the same time it should be understood that the specific construction or the proper organization of the cooperating parts may be modified more or less without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, the subject-matter of which was originally disclosed in an application for Letters Patent bearing the Serial No. 101,157, filed April 3, 1902, and now constitutes the subject matter of the present divisional application.

In the drawings, 10 denotes a bed-plate having near one end thereof a vertical post 11, which at its upper end is provided with an overhanging arm 12, all being of ordinary construction.

Journaled in a bearing 13 forming a part of the post 11 is the main driving member or shaft 14, to which power may be imparted through a band-pulley 15 from any convenient source. Mounted upon this shaft, at the forward end thereof, is an eccentric 16 for operating a needle-bar 22, journaled in bearings 23-and 24 of the overhanging arm 12.

Disposed, near the rear end of the driving member 14 is an actuating device, preferably in the form of an eccentric 30, connected through the intervention of a connecting-rod 31 with an arm 32, secured upon a horizontally-disposed shaft 33 and slotted at its free end (see Fig. 2) to Vary the point of engagement with said rod 31, and hence the angular movement of the lever or arm 32. This shaft is journaled in bearings 34. formed on the table T, which is pivoted at 35 to the post 11 and held in its upward position by a spring 36. Means are provided whereby the upward movement of the table around the axis 35 may be limited, these means consisting substantially of a bolt 37 in screw-threaded engagement with the hub 38, forming a part of or made integral with the bed-plate 10 and having at its upper end ahead 38',which serves as a stop for the table T.

Secured to the forward end of the shaft 33 is an arm 40, connected by a link 11 with an arm 42, constituting a part of the feed-dog. Hence it will be seen that the operation of the eccentric 30 will result in an oscillatory movement, the bar 52 of the arm 42 moving the fabric-engaging faces or teeth 43 in a substantially vertical plane and around a pivot 44 as an axis. I accomplish this result by mounting the stud 44 on a slide 45, to which a reciprocatory movement may be imparted in any suitable manner, provided such movement is properly timed, and in the present instance I obtain this movement through the oscillation of the arm 40, which, as has above been stated, moves the feed-dog in a vertical plane. The slide 45 is preferably provided with a pair of stops, shown herein as pins 47 and 48, respectively, the former of which will limit the upward movement of the face- 43 when actuated by the arm 40, whereupon the entire slide, with the feed-dog, will be moved bodily in a longitudinal direction, as variably controlled by the movement of the arm or, more specificallyspeaking, that of the eccentric 30. As soon as the slide has arrived at the limit of its movement to the left, as seen in Fig. 2, a reversible or a swinging movement of the arm 40 from left to right will result in moving the fabric-engaging faces 43 downward, and therefore out of contact with the fabric resting upon the table T, this downward movement being limited by the stop 48 above mentioned, whereupon the entire slide 45 is moved bodily toward the right, subject, to the movement of the eccentric 30. When now the movement of the lever or arm 40 is reversed, the feed-dog is at first raised and the slide 45 is subsequently moved bodily toward the left until it has arrived in the position shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the vertical movement of the feed-dog with its fabric-engaging faces is completed before any longitudinal movement of said dog results, and in order to render this action more positive means are provided whereby the slide is held stationary during the reversal of the vertical movement of the feed dog, these means consisting of a device whereby the slide will be frictionally held at that time. This friction device comprises in the preferred form thereof shown a disk or similar member 50, held within a recess 51 provided therefor in the table and acted upon by a spring 52, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The machine incorporating my improvements being especially adapted for over-seaming, the table is made inverted-\I-shaped, and the needle is so disposed as to cross the longitudinal line of the feed movement and around the axis 22, and since frequently it is required that two pieces of fabric of different thicknesses may be stitched together my invention includes as one of its features a feeddog made in two parts, each of which is conform to the thickness of the material to be sewed, together with special means for supporting said dog and actuating the same.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the feed-dog arm 52 is provided at its free end with grooves 53 54, preferably dovetailed to receive correspondingly-formed feeddogs 55 and 56, respectively, each of said dogs being provided at its upper edge with the usual teeth for engaging the material, and a suflicient space intervenes between said plates to permit a portion of the table to remain solid and serve as a support for the cloth. Any suitable means may be employed for controlling the upward movement of said feed-dogs independently of each other, these means consisting, preferably, of springs 57, interposed between the lower edges of said dogs and the bottom of a recess formed in the bar 52, while a stop-pin, such as 58, passing through slots 59 in the dogs, may serve as a stop for limiting the upward movement of said dogs as caused by the springs 57.

Cooperative with the table T is a presserfoot, which in the present instance is stationary and may be secured to the overhanging arm 12 in any convenient manner, and preferred construction being illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the shank 61 of said presserfoot is shown fitted in a groove in the rear of the overhanging arm, and a thumb-screw, such as 62, may be employed for holding said presser-foot in place, while at the same time it may be adjusted vertically to meet different requirements, depending upon the thickness of the material to be sewed.

The usual looper for presenting a loop to the needle and to form the stitch is herein indicated by 65, (see Fig. 2,) and is in the present instance operated through the intervention of a rod 66 from a crank-pin 67, disposed at an angle to the driving member 14, while the free end of said looper-rod 66 is swiveled by a ball-and-socket joint 68, formed on the end of the link 69, which may be suspended from a stud 7 O, forming a part of or eccentrically secured to a stud 71, held in the overhanging arm 12in any convenient manner as, for instance, by a nut 73. (Shown in Fig. 1.)

Many changes may be made in the particular construction of some of these elements without in any way departing from the gist of my invention, and therefore I wish it distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the particular construction or specific organization of the component elements as hereinabove described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sewing-machine, the combination with a slide, and a feed-dog pivotally supported thereon, of a rock-shaft having an arm for actuating said dog vertically, a link connectmovable independently of the other, so as to 1 ing said dog and arm for positively control- ICC ling the movement of said dog, an eccentric for oscillating said rock-shaft, a slotted arm on said rock-shaft, a rod for connecting the eccentric with said slotted arm, and means for varying the point of connection between the rod and the slotted arm, and means for varying the longitudinal movement of the feeddog by varying the movement of said arm, substantially as described.

2. In a sewing-machine, the combination with a feed-arm mounted for vertical and longitudinal movement, and having grooves at opposite sides thereof, a pair of feed -dogs mounted for movement in said grooves, resilient means for permitting each of said dogs to yield individually and without affecting the movement of the other, and a pin and closedslot connection between said arm and dogs, substantially as set forth.

3. In a feed mechanism for sewing-machines, the combination with a presser-foot, of a fabric-supporting table yieldingly supported below the presser-foot and having an opening formed therein, a feed device com prising a pair of independent, Vertically-movable dogs arranged for projection through said opening, a carrier for the said dogs, and means for imparting alternate vertical and longitudinal movementto said carrier,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a sewing-machine, the combination with suitable stitch-forming means, a presserfoot, a yieldinglymounted fabric-supporting member provided with an opening therein, a pair of independent yielding feed members mounted for vertical movement and adapted to project through said first-named member, common means for supporting the feed members, and means for alternately moving the same vertically and longitudinally, substantially as set forth.

5. In a feed mechanism for sewing-machines, the combination with a presser-foot,

of a yielding fabric-supporting member provided with an opening therein, a slide mounted therein, adapted for longitudinal movement, a vertically-movable member carried thereby, independent vertically-movable feed members mounted upon said vertical movable member being yieldingly supported therein, and adapted to be projected through the opening of the fabric-supporting member, and means for actuating the slide and feed members, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the presser-foot, of a work-supporting member of substantially ridge shape having the form of an inverted V, mounted for yielding movement toward and away from the presser, and a feed device comprising a pair of independently and vertically movable dogs, a carrier yieldingly supporting the said dogs, and means for alternately moving said carrier vertically and longitudinally, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7 In a sewing-machine the combination with a stationary presser-foot and a yielding work-supporting table, having an opening formed therein, of a pair of independent vertically-movable feed-dogs arranged for projection through said opening below said presserfoot and cooperative therewith, a carrier for said dogs and means for actuating the carrier vertically and longitudinally alternately relative to the table, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY W. LARSSON.

Witnesses: I

A. V. LEAHY, WM. S. BELLOWS. 

